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Relais Giulia

A secret hideaway on elegant Renaissance-era Via Giulia, this 13-room boutique hotel is a haven of less-is-more taste. Traces of fresco testify to the venerable past of the palazzo, which once belonged to the Farnese family. A good choice for independent souls who have no need of luxury-hotel bells and whistles.

Location

10/10

On narrow, cobbled and (relatively) traffic-free via Giulia, this is as quintessentially Roman as you can get. The Vatican is a 10-minute stroll across the Tiber; skirt the Michelangelo-designed Palazzo Farnese – built for Pope Paul III – and you’re in the bustle of pretty Campo de’ Fiori and no distance at all from Piazza Navona.

Style & character

8/10

Elegantly minimalist, the Relais will suit even the most demanding followers of fashion. The very restrained colour palette is a fine foil, in some rooms, for fragments of fresco discovered and restored during renovation.

Service & facilities

8/10

The décor may be minimalist but the welcome from the Relais’ staff is anything but. Sight-seeing advice is dispensed with a smile at reception, and restaurant recommendations are generally spot-on too. Breakfast orders are delivered swiftly and with a smile.

Laundry

Room service

Wi-Fi

Rooms

8/10

With their pale colour schemes and modern four-poster beds, the Relais Giulia’s rooms are very stylish. Standard rooms are on the small side, though no more so than in most Rome hotels. In larger rooms, the bathrooms have whirlpool baths. One suite has a delightful balcony on Via Giulia itself. Though the street is not particularly noisy, the courtyard-facing accommodation may suit light sleepers better. Extra beds can be added on the mezzanines in street-facing deluxe rooms.

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Food & drink

7/10

A continental breakfast is brought direct to your room. Or you can hit the well-stocked buffet in the pretty glassed-in courtyard. The area around the Relais teems with trattorie, cafés and bars.

Value for money

7/10

This is a delightful bit of historic Rome and accommodation prices in the area tend to be high. The Relais Giulia is a great off-season deal, therefore, but comes closer to the norm at busier times.